If you can boil it and drink the tea you can eat it without boiling (unless it's too hard or tough). Anyone who has been on this journey for a minute, knows how I feel about weeds.
One man's invasive weed is always earth's abundance and dynamic indicator of the state of balance in the ecosystem. Of course this balance includes humans and human influences. What we consider invasive is there for us as an opportunity to gain understandings to help us. In the mix with any of the following plants of natural abundance, you can boil ginger or any other item used for tea, including the skins and/or fruit of pineapple, skin of banana, apples, or any other fruit or vegetable you think would be a good mix in your tea. Tea is merely the essence of plant cells. This extract is mixed with the water we use in other to extract and consume the plant's nutritious essence.
Anything you like eating, that you think would taste good in tea form, you can and should experiment with it, especially with parts of plants we usually throw away. Decide for yourself what plants to use, how much and if your health situation is conducive.
The main concern is if you are taking man's maniacal medications. If you decide to move forward and make some of the teas below or any of the many others you can make from naturally growing plants in your vicinity, then start slow and small and slowly increase the ounces you drink daily and see how you feel. You should know something within the hour. Some of the invasive weeds I've eaten are dandelion, ramps, wood sorrel with yellow flowers, clover, poke salad, creasy greens and wild strawberries.
This year I have boiled and drank the following plants that are growing abundantly in my yard or very close nearby next door:
sourweed (japenese knotweed)
Knotweed flowering https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/tips-on-japanese-knotweed/53690 Knotweed shoots https://www.wildwalks-southwest.co.uk/eating-japanese-knotweed/ Knotweed stalks http://jdcf.org/japanese-knotweed-an-emerging-invasive-weed-in-jo-davies-county/........honeysuckle vine (lonicera japonica)
Honeysuckle flowering https://www.amazon.com/Hardy-Favorite-Honeysuckle-Lonceria-japonica/dp/B0041NCA6E Honeysuckle leaves https://theherbalacademy.com/homemade-honeysuckle-syrup/ ........creeping charlie (ground ivy vine)
With this plant, variation is more common regarding leaf tint and leaf shape. Creeping charlie flowering http://lyndarimke.com/portfolio-item/creeping-charlie/ Creeping Charlie flowering 2 https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/weeds/kill-creeping-charlie.htm creeping charlie flowering old (pollinated) https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/8866530499268856/ Creeping charlie vine https://gardenbite.com/creeping-charlie/ Creeping charlie vine 2 https://omahaorganicslawncare.com/blog/lawn-weeds/ ......yellow wood sorrel
This plant pulls up easily but don't do it. Find the mainstem near the ground and pinch it off. This tea by itself is very tart for my taste, so I will combine it with something else. yellow wood sorrelhttps://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwifl5Tc_6LqAhXKvMAKHd-_AH4YABAGGgJpbQ&sig=AOD64_0pbeGhJeHtPMkLjNZaH57EGE614A&adurl&ctype=5&ved=2ahUKEwi3m4Tc_6LqAhVHWqwKHZ8NDHAQvhd6BAgBEC4 ... yellow wood sorrel 2
https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=l&ai=DChcSEwifl5Tc_6LqAhXKvMAKHd-_AH4YABAMGgJpbQ&sig=AOD64_1w3ROPZfXYjDBWgc8D55wnx_Zd9w&adurl&ctype=5&ved=2ahUKEwi3m4Tc_6LqAhVHWqwKHZ8NDHAQvhd6BAgBED4 .... yellow wood sorrel shade (growing in shade grows bigger with darker leaves and thicker stems
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fnature.mdc.mo.gov%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fmedia%2Fimages%2F2014%2F07%2Fyellow_wood_sorrel_7-7-14.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fnature.mdc.mo.gov%2Fdiscover-nature%2Ffield-guide%2Fyellow-wood-sorrel&tbnid=-aZp950i0aXd1M&vet=12ahUKEwi3m4Tc_6LqAhVHWqwKHZ8NDHAQMygAegUIARD7AQ..i&docid=TKg6d4Cr9M8DuM&w=1800&h=1400&q=wood%20sorrel%20yellow&ved=2ahUKEwi3m4Tc_6LqAhVHWqwKHZ8NDHAQMygAegUIARD7AQ
Plantains (Broadleaf and Narrow leaf)
broadleaf plantainhttps://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn%3AANd9GcRwtAM6reYXDybr6XcB3rvLYOOlS_FqfXHrsGJ43YoHELQvijHioBNHbxucTQ&usqp=CAc ....... narrow leaf plantain
https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.massey.ac.nz%2Fmassey%2Ffms%2FColleges%2FCollege%2520of%2520Sciences%2FAgEnv%2Fweeds%2Fnarrow-leaved%2520plantain%2520N1.jpg%3F4711F04D132BF3E203F865FF385E2F1A&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.massey.ac.nz%2Fmassey%2Flearning%2Fcolleges%2Fcollege-of-sciences%2Fclinics-and-services%2Fweeds-database%2Fnarrow-leaved-plantain.cfm&tbnid=ViQaZGsWFRAzRM&vet=12ahUKEwiR0eSKuKPqAhUFz6wKHQnzBsMQMygUegUIARCSAg..i&docid=3Aep2aOAMXTmKM&w=300&h=200&q=plantain%20narrow%20leaf&ved=2ahUKEwiR0eSKuKPqAhUFz6wKHQnzBsMQMygUegUIARCSAg . narrow leaf plantain 2
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fplants.ces.ncsu.edu%2Fplants%2Fplantago-lanceolata%2F&psig=AOvVaw0fTjf1o85KuFV4AaBqETMp&ust=1593396882867000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCJCTsYu4o-oCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAo ... I boiled a combination of broadleaf and narrow leaf plantain, including the seed stalks and heads, and the taste was the mildest of all of those above. The leaves were neither young nor old, but old enough to produce seeds. Next time I will get a much larger amount to see if that makes a difference. The taste was almost nonexistent. If the taste remains mild, it can be used to mellow out yellow wood sorrel tea.
Wild Violets (This is not the same plant as African Violets)
wild violetshttps://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fchestnutherbs.com%2Fviolets-edible-and-medicinal-uses%2F&psig=AOvVaw12BwQAxhiy9gwZpqsost2D&ust=1593461468718000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCOCHp9mopeoCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD ....... wild violets 2
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fforagerchef.com%2Fviolets%2F&psig=AOvVaw12BwQAxhiy9gwZpqsost2D&ust=1593461468718000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCOCHp9mopeoCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAJ ... wild violets 3
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.survival-manual.com%2Fedible-plants%2Fviolets.php&psig=AOvVaw12BwQAxhiy9gwZpqsost2D&ust=1593461468718000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCOCHp9mopeoCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAX .... This plant also has a mild flavor but takes slightly more light fresh green leaves. The tea is dark green in color. The plant grows bigger and darker in partial shade.
Absinth Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
Also simply called wormwood, common wormwood and plain wormwood. Also loosely as sagewort and mistakenly as mugwort. Absinth wormwood is not to be confused with the leaves on wild geranium or several varieties of buttercups, including creeping buttercup.. Wormwood tea is said to be very bitter. Some say you should drink a little. Some say you can drink three cups per day. Its benefits are numerous. Wormwood also comes in a variety called Sweet Wormwood (Artemisia annua or sweet annie). This variety is also an antiviral and is also specifically used for malaria and covid-19 treatment. I suspect Artemisia absinthium also has similar healing properties, even if not by the same chemical mechanism. As far as I can tell, the distinguishing difference in identifying the artemisias, absinthium and annua, is that Annua has many smaller, finer leaves whereas absinthium has far fewer and larger leaves. I found one Annua plant in my yard. Why Artemisias Are Important for Health All things considered, I have chosen to drink one-half cup of wormwood tea cold or room temperature without sweetener, per day as supplies are available. Perhaps I should do the same with wood sorrel. Perhaps one-half cup of each, each morning. I could either mix them when initially making the tea or afterwards. wormwoodhttps://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.edenbrothers.com%2Fstore%2Fabsinthe-wormwood-seeds.html&psig=AOvVaw1LATalC2YGcVVpIGbht3a6&ust=1593668166854000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCNjwzNSqq-oCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAj ....... wormwood absinthium leaves
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcropwatch.unl.edu%2F2017%2Fabsinth-wormwood-new-invasive-species-nebraska-panhandle&psig=AOvVaw1LATalC2YGcVVpIGbht3a6&ust=1593668166854000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCNjwzNSqq-oCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAq . wormwood annua leaf
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffineartamerica.com%2Ffeatured%2Fannual-wormwood-artemisia-annua-scott-bauerus-department-of-agriculturescience-photo-library.html&psig=AOvVaw30HSMlKyoD7G4jBa-QzOqO&ust=1593699501376000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCLixmcmfrOoCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAP . wormwood absinthium 2
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flickr.com%2Fphotos%2Fstevewilliams%2F2580798129&psig=AOvVaw1LATalC2YGcVVpIGbht3a6&ust=1593668166854000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCNjwzNSqq-oCFQAAAAAdAAAAABB7 .../ What is the difference between absinth artemisia and artemisia annua? Artemisia annua leaves are also not to be confused with the leaves of yarrow. 10 Herbs That Kill Viruses and Clear Mucus from Your Lungs wormwood +tea There are plenty of youtube videos on all these plants that will provide a better view of how the plant looks. oh yeah, if I get sunflowers to grow, I will also be making sunflower tea.
Interestingly, the beloved plant, kudzu, is also edible.
Use your smartphone to actually make you smart. Search any plant with the word “uses” or “benefits” or “medicinal” or all three.
The lesson for all these naturally growing perennials is that they are highly adaptable to many types of climate conditions, thus they have variations in some aspect of appearance under different conditions.
Poisonous – Do not consume the plants below. Too risky. Learn to identify and reckon-wise
Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus Repens)
not the same as:Hairy Buttercup (Ranunculus sardous) or
Hispid Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) or
Bulbous Buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus) or
Tall Buttercup (Ranunculus acris) buttercup ranunculus repens
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR0-HJOLxfUHGneotauKr3EQuptEuH0xRUe1ViMfQuRbJSa8_iQFjU4tg1otn5aJNkYBpsyov_A9DfurK601cnCJLYAfD0QZ0Gs0UWF51ARZDayCYrUBtrGXgV1NRCBjDFlrvJFp2rPKk/s1600/Ranunculus+repens-1.jpg .. buttercup three leaves three petioles
https://extension.umass.edu/landscape/sites/landscape/files/weeds/leaves/ranre0599w.jpg .. Creeping Buttercup Roots
https://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/weedguide/single_weed.php?id=17 .. The buttercup in my yard is closest to creeping buttercup and has a long stem that lays down with only three leaves at the top. Multiple stems originate from one point at the base of the plant.